His performances, most notably in the reserve team, earned him a new contract, which he signed in February 2005 to run until the summer of 2009. On 4 August 2006, however, La Liga side Real Zaragoza secured Piqué on a season-long loan. The conditions of the loan involved Piqué having to feature in at least 20 games for the Aragonese outfit,[6] which he did, as he made 22 first team appearances in a successful spell, alongside ArgentineGabriel Milito, either as a stopper or a holding midfielder.

On 5 May 2007, it was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season. Sir Alex Ferguson had intended to assess Piqué's form at La Romareda on 6 May, prior to a meeting where the two parties would discuss Piqué's future prospects with the club. However, Ferguson was unable to attend on account of airline difficulties.[7]

Piqué's return to Old Trafford saw him make nine league appearances during the 2007–08 season. He scored on his first start in the UEFA Champions League, a 4–0 home win against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007, as Piqué scored the first of Manchester United's four goals in that match.[8] In doing so, he became the 450th player to score at least one goal for the club.[9] His second goal for the club also came in the Champions League, in an away match to Roma on 12 December 2007.[10]

On 27 May 2008, Piqué signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a €5 million buy-out clause.[11] Barcelona paid a £5 million fee for the player.[12] He expressed his joy at re-signing with his boyhood club, although he admitted he had enjoyed his spell at Manchester United:

"I am very happy to be back, I didn't think I would be here again but this is very good for me. Manchester United is a great club and I enjoyed winning things. To play with world class players has helped me and now I want to continue this at Barça."

On 26 February 2010, Piqué signed a contract extension to keep him at Barcelona until at least summer 2015.[23][24] On 28 April 2010, Piqué scored in Barcelona's Champions League semi-final second leg against Internazionale, though his side went out 3–2 on aggregate.[25]

Subsequently, he played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting all six of Spain's matches and scoring a goal in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 victory over Brazil in the round of 16.[30] However, Piqué missed the deciding penalty in the shoot-out against the Czech Republic and Spain were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.[31]

Piqué played every minute of Spain's UEFA Euro 2012 campaign, partnering Sergio Ramos in the centre of defence. He successfully converted the team's third penalty in a semi-final shoot-out win over Portugal. In the final, Spain recorded a fifth consecutive clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Italy. Piqué was one of three Spanish defenders included in UEFA's Team of the Tournament as La Roja conceded only one goal in six matches.

Piqué is a modern defender, who combines strength with good technique and passing. Due to his height and physical attributes, he is good in the air. Although he is primarily deployed as a centre-back, he is also a tactically versatile player, who is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, and also occasionally advancing into more offensive positions, as well as being a competent defensively.[39]

Piqué was raised in a Catalan family. His father, Joan, is a business man, and his mother, Montserrat, is the director of a prestigious spinal injuries hospital in Barcelona. He has a younger brother named Marc.[45][46] His grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is a former vice-president of FC Barcelona.[47]

Since Spring 2010,[48][49] Piqué has been in a relationship with Colombian singer Shakira. They share the same birthday but she is 10 years his senior. They met when Piqué featured in the music video for Shakira's song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[50] After months of media speculation, Shakira officially confirmed the relationship in March 2011 via Twitter and Facebook by posting a picture of the two with a caption reading, "I present to you my sunshine" in Spanish.[51]

Shakira told E! Online "He's very territorial, and since he no longer lets me do videos with men, well, I have to do them with women."[52]

In September 2012, Shakira announced that she and Piqué were expecting their first child together.[53] Their son, Milan Piqué i Mebarak, was born on 22 January 2013 in Barcelona.[54]

In late 2014, Shakira announced that she is pregnant with a second son with Piqué.[55] Their second son, Sasha Piqué i Mebarak, was born on 29 January 2015 in Barcelona.[56]